Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Demonic Arts
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A heavy sound that shook their hearts reverberated through the training ground.
Ding… di-ding…… ding…….
As Baek Mong's hands began to move, the squad members who had been chatting shut their mouths all at once.
‘Truly a beautiful sound.’
Captivated by the music, the squad members unconsciously closed their eyes.
Ding… ding… ding… di-ding…….
As the notes of the seven-stringed zither continued, ripples began to stir in the previously calm hearts of the squad members.
‘How can mere sound stir the heart like this?’
The plaintive melody tugged at their souls as if it might break them, tears streaming down their faces.
Yet the squad members were unaware they were even crying.
‘Truly remarkable skill.’
Even the Strategist couldn't hold back his admiration.
The family had several experts proficient in the seven-stringed zither.
Yet Baek Mong's playing produced a sound far deeper and more resonant than any in the family.
Every warrior in the training ground was lost in her music—except for one: the Iron Fairy.
‘Shedding tears over a mere zither?’
“Hah…!”
Her shout, infused with inner energy, halted Baek Mong's hands and snapped the squad members from their trance.
“How can the geniuses of the world show such disgrace!”
The Iron Fairy berated the Elusive Squadron members in a thunderous voice.
That wasn't all.
She descended from the platform and scolded Baek Mong, who sat quietly.
“Why do you disturb the hearts of these geniuses?”
Baek Mong calmly cradled the zither in her arms.
“I wasn't disturbing their hearts. I was steadying my own.”
Her response was profound yet clear.
And utterly blunt.
“You insolent wretch…!”
As the Iron Fairy flew into a rage, the Strategist hurried over.
But someone else moved first.
A Third Squad member who had fallen for Baek Mong at first sight shot to his feet.
“Miss Baek. This is an elder of the Emei Sect, renowned throughout the jianghu. Apologize at once.”
Baek Mong looked at him and smiled.
“Young hero, go suckle at your mother's breast a bit longer.”
“M-Miss Baek…”
How could such crude words, fit for street thugs, emerge from those pretty lips?
Smiling, she lightly lifted her hair.
In that instant, the Third Squad member who had blocked her path collapsed limply to the ground.
The long, jagged scar made one's eyes water involuntarily.
“Enough, Elder Golden Flower. Miss Baek is a disciple of Botagak.”
The Iron Fairy, already furious, ignored even the Strategist's plea.
“Botagak? I could wipe it out single-handedly.”
“Elder Golden Flower…!”
Her words enraged the Strategist, and murderous intent flickered in Baek Mong's eyes.
“If you're so confident, try it.”
“Miss Baek, calm down.”
The Strategist tried to soothe her with kind words.
But Baek Mong simply picked up her zither and left.
“That bitch.”
Baek Mong ground her teeth as she headed to her quarters.
She shouldn't have crossed the Iron Fairy.
Not out of fear of her or the Emei Sect, but because there was a matter requiring them as allies.
Yet the Iron Fairy's temperament was utterly vile, and her own was no milder, turning potential allies into enemies.
‘Shall I go meet an enemy?’
Changing direction from her quarters, she headed toward the Tenth Squad's quarters.
The path to the Tenth Squad was far rougher than to the others.
Narrow, uneven with unhewn stones, surrounded only by trees.
‘No wonder they call the Tenth Squad quarters an exile.’
Deeper into the wooded path, the clash of weapons rang out.
Clang……! Thud……!
The fierce sounds suggested a real battle raging inside the forest.
Ugh…!
A scream followed.
She quickened her pace.
Baek Mong arrived at a small training ground where an elderly instructor and a short young warrior were locked in combat.
Clang……! Thud……!
As spear and sword clashed violently and parted, the short warrior tumbled across the ground.
Urk…!
The writhing warrior on the ground forced himself up.
“Here it comes.”
Clang……! Clang-clang……!
It was utterly one-sided.
Yet the short warrior showed no sign of yielding.
“What brings you here?”
Se Yeong blocked Baek Mong's path and asked.
Their eyes met in that moment.
Se Yeong's gaze held steady, while Baek Mong's sparkled with intrigue.
‘What an unusual man.’
She knew her beauty well.
Any man should waver at first glance, but not him.
“I'm Baek Mong.”
Baek Mong gave her name first.
But Se Yeong's reaction defied her expectations.
“I didn't ask your name.”
In the jianghu, they said to beware women, children, and elders.
Most dismissed it as a joke, but not Se Yeong.
Beautiful women posed the deadliest traps.
Without his grandfather's warning, he might have fallen for one and lost his life.
“I wandered here on a whim.”
Se Yeong posed another question.
“Have we met before?”
“No.”
Baek Mong and Se Yeong had never met.
But she knew him well.
“That's enough for today.”
As Instructor Kang sheathed his sword, Hahu Yeon sprawled out, gasping for breath.
Hah…… hah…….
“Starting tomorrow, two of you at a time, every day.”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
The squad members bowed deeply, then swarmed Baek Mong.
“Paeng Se Gi of the Northern Hebei Paeng Family.”
“Yi Cheon Yeong of Mount Hua Sect.”
“Om mani padme hum. Younggak of Shaolin.”
Hahu Yeon, still sprawled and catching his breath, offered greetings too.
“Hahu Yeon of the Hahu Family.”
The only one not greeting her was Dang Ok.
Dang Ok glared at Baek Mong with clear displeasure.
“Baek Mong of Botagak.”
As Baek Mong revealed her identity, she habitually lifted the hair covering her throat.
The squad members' faces hardened upon seeing the scar.
Se Yeong alone regarded her with impassive eyes.
Hohoho…… hoho……!
Baek Mong let out a delighted laugh.
So close.
Truly a pity, but she had to kill him.
‘Why did Father assign this to me?’
She had never once resented her father.
Far from it—she'd give her life for him in an instant.
He had given a wandering orphan a new life; how could she resent him?
“Young Hero Han. Might we speak privately?”
‘So the target is me.’
Se Yeong instantly grasped why this enigmatic woman had come.
“Of course.”
Se Yeong readily agreed and led the way.
Baek Mong followed, gliding after him.
He took her to an empty grove.
“Sit.”
Se Yeong pointed to a rock, and Baek Mong sat.
As she settled, he perched on the opposite rock.
“What business do you have with me?”
“I desire Young Hero Han's death.”
Her expression remained utterly serene as she spoke of death.
Haha…….
Se Yeong couldn't help but laugh.
“Do you bear me some grudge?”
“No. It's not me who wants you dead—it's my father.”
“Who is your father?”
“I can't say.”
Se Yeong nodded and rose from the rock.
“Then let's begin.”
Baek Mong stared at him, incredulous.
“Begin what?”
“You want my death, don't you? I'm not one to sit idly awaiting it.”
Hohohoho……!
Baek Mong's mood lifted even more.
To think such a man existed.
“It won't be me. It'll be Emei, Zhongnan, and the Moyong Family who kill you.”
“I've prepared for that much.”
Se Yeong was testing his patience now.
If they drew swords first, he'd cut them down without hesitation—but the chance hadn't come.
She flashed a subtle smile.
“I wonder if they know you're cultivating demonic arts?”
Ripples stirred in Se Yeong's previously calm heart.
“Could it be… the White Master?”
In the jianghu, only the White Master and Ak Su Deok knew Se Yeong cultivated demonic arts.
Baek Mong smiled silently.
But Se Yeong was certain.
‘The White Master has decided to kill me. No— to incite internal strife in the Murim Alliance.’
The truth hardly mattered.
The Iron Fairy would surely brand him a Demonic Cult spy.
“How old are you, Young Hero Han?”
Why ask his age now?
“Tiger zodiac.”
Baek Mong dropped the formal speech instantly.
“I'm Rat zodiac, so I'm two years older.”
What an unpredictable woman.
She continued.
“I'll tell the Iron Fairy you're cultivating demonic arts. Then the entire Murim Alliance will turn against you.”
Haha……!
“Please do.”
Se Yeong was glad instead.
Grandfather had said to hide the demonic arts, but since he'd revealed them before the White Master, there was no point concealing anymore.
Hiding now would only breed more suspicion.
Se Yeong's joy left Baek Mong flustered.
‘Death looms, yet he's pleased. What an odd man.’
She rose and approached him.
“Hate me if you want.”
“Hate? I've been prepared since revealing demonic arts before the White Master.”
At his response, Baek Mong raised her pale hand.
In that instant, Se Yeong's eyes flashed blue.
Her hand, reaching for his cheek, hesitated and fell.
‘I hope you don't die.’
In her life, no man had shone so brightly.
“Brother. Did something good happen in the woods? We heard laughter from here.”
Paeng Se Gi even wore a lecherous grin.
The squad members' eyes sparkled, awaiting his answer.
But Se Yeong said something they never expected.
“She caught my weakness.”
“Brother has a weakness?”
Paeng Se Gi and the squad members were stunned.
They'd never found one in Se Yeong before.
“What… is Brother's weakness?”
Paeng Se Gi blinked his ox-like eyes.
It was time to reveal it.
No, past time.
He should have told them when he revealed the demonic arts.
“I've been cultivating demonic arts.”
“……Pardon? What…”
Paeng Se Gi and the squad members gaped, mouths agape.
Silence fell, broken by Younggak's trembling voice.
“O-om mani padme hum.”
Even Younggak, proud of his composure, stuttered the mantra.
Paeng Se Gi, ever Se Yeong's ally, looked grave too.
“Brother. Were you originally from the Demonic Cult?”
Se Yeong shook his head with a laugh.
Haha…….
“Of course not. I just cultivated demonic arts.”
“Then… no problem, right?”
Paeng Se Gi tried to brush it off casually.
But that was just his view.
Instructor Kang, who had watched silently, stepped forward.
“Why reveal something that could cause such turmoil?”
The reason was clear.
Even if he stayed silent, that woman Baek Mong would expose it.
“They'd learn eventually. Better to take the beating first, no?”